On the Workbench

It's October and the re-enactment season is nearly over. One event to go. SO thoughts and energy turn to winter projects. Now these could all easily be re-enactment projects if I let them, afterall I aim to make myself a brigandine this winter like Heidi did at the start of this year, which is a serious amount of metal work, but I also need to be working on some gaming stuff too.

This winter I have two gaming projects to be getting on with. One will be for gaming with a variety of friends and one will be mostly self indulgent but will result in my effort for Salute2012. The first project then is aimed at getting some of my re-enactment friends playing more games, I aim to use much of what I have already and only work on some figures. We aim to run a Very British Civil War campaign (VBCW) which will be set on the Isle of Wight. This will hopefully involve four players and myself as the campaign master. Ant will be playing the Fascists, Francis the Vectis Nationalists, El Hoggo the Anglican League and Jon has yet to declare a faction. I will be representing the Governor of the island, Princess Beatrice Mountbatten and the forces at her disposal, namely the Princess Beatrice Rifles (formerly 530 Coast Defence Regiment) and the Vectis Constabulary. This means new toys to paint and play with, the first of which are on the workbench right now.

Men of the Vectis Constabulary. These are Artizan Design figures and very nice too. they will go with my Eureka bobbies and some figures from Empress Miniatures which will make up Auxiliary Police.


Merchant seamen from the talented hands of Bob Murch of Pulp Figures. The Isle of Wight being an island relies heavily on shipping and these figures are going to see quite a lot of action I should think.


The cool thing about this campaign is that because of my extensive scenery collection for End Of Empire I only need to add details like phone boxes, telegraph poles and the right kind of vehicles to make it all work. Getting the right scale of stuff is a little more challenging, however most of this stuff will work fine when on a table with all the other bits.


This is the first of a fleet of delivery trucks for the Mews Brewery of Newport (Livery to be added) The barrels are removable so they can just be used as flatbed trucks. All three bought for a fiver on ebay, got to love that:0)

The second project this winter is, as I said, a little more self indulgent. the VBCW project and this one has mostly been funded by selling some gaming gear off to make room. The odd thing is though I have sold my 28mm pirates and ships. What is odd about that? you may ask. Well I have sold my 28mm pirates to make way for 40mm ones. I have rather fallen for 40mm since the F&IW project and the challenge of building models in a bigger scale really appeals. So hopefully I will have a whole piratical 40mm game for Salute 2012. The figures will mostly be from Sash & Saber. We are going to use ou F&IW civilians and the Redcoats too (Not completely correct for the golden age of piracy being 3--40 years too late but they have an iconic look so what the heck?) I will also be buying various figures from Drabant as they are ace (If a tad expensive) So watch this space for swabbie crews, new ships and a whole lot more.


4 Sash & Saber pirates on the way. The main pack of pirates comes with multiple torsos, legs, heads an weapons allowing for tonnes of variation. This pack I think will be bought a number of times over as I intend to use them for pirates, naval crews and gunners. This size model is a delight to paint and I can see me getting on pretty well with all the pirates I need to finish.


I am rather pleased with this pair. Things bode well for the dark winter months. Watch this space and see how we progress.

Summer 2011 in the 15th Century

Well that's the end of the summer holiday for me, back to school in a couple of days. Loads of action, not much rest. After Dover castle it was off to a quiet gig at Hatfield Forest in North Essex with COJO (the Company of Saint Joseph) a 15th Century group who focus on craftsmen and artisans. A splendid event was had by all. Lovely venue and very appreciative public. Although most of the weekend we spent concentrating on skinning and hunting there was time for a Man At Arms demo where I got to hit my friend John quite a lot. After Hatfield I had to go back down to Dover Castle for one day to film for BBC1 show National Treasures Live. Ant and myself spent the day at the castle with a couple of other re-enactors teaching presenters, Dan Snow and Sian Williams all about Medieval missile weapons. We spent a great deal of time 'hurry up waiting' but the whole process was very interesting and we were guaranteed getting out mugs on the TV as it was a live show. At the end of a great but windswept day we did our bit. Sian finally managing to shoot Ant's crossbow and hitting the butt, and Dan firing the pole gun I was crewing. Stardom beckons... I think not. Right then, from Dover Castle to Bodiam Castle. An MSS gig at one of the finest castles in England.


I wrote the scripts for this weekend, and having picked up a niggling wrist injury at Dover Castle I decided not to fight (A first for me) and commentate instead. It was great fun. Writing a script is rather like writing a roleplaying scenario, the only difference is that real play it out in front of you. The other challenge at Bodiam was that the script needed to focus on the siege of Bodiam in 1483, a rather anticlimactic event that lasted probably 15 minutes and resulted in no loss of life. My script had to last at least half an hour with loads of bodies. It did both days and for the first time on a medieval battlefield I watched archery in action as it should be. Usually archery consists of one volley of of arrows every now and then from opposing blocks of archers. Now each block shoots four or five arrow volleys at a go resulting in hundreds of arrows falling continuously throughout the battle, very cool!
A week after Bodiam, was the Battle of Bosworth. A trek to Leicestershire to fight in the War Of The Roses Federation event with the Tyrrell's retinue (The martial arm of COJO) This is a four battle weekend. We fight Tewkesbury in the morning and Bosworth in the afternoon, a 2, 2 draw for us. I tend to be the shouty bloke for Tyrrell's a sort of Sergeant At Armes, I get to get stuck in but also have to keep our block in order, which this year involved, on more than one occasion, wandering across the field to some wayward warriors and saying to them "My Lord Tyrrell, requests the pleasure of you fighting in our fecking block!" Just like a real battle it can get confusing out there. This was a brilliant weekend, as usual. The fighting is hard with the Fed, and the addition of cavalry and lots of guns really give it a battle feel. Added to that my wonderful wife was invited by a friend to go out and gun as she has had a shoulder injury that has kept her off the field. The upshot of which, is that we may well be ordering medieval pieces over the winter, gonna need that gun cabinet now:0)
Saturday evening was completed with NERF mayhem on the battlefield with a free for all Zombie Apocalypse game, which meant we were forced to take extra kit and 'double tap' the undead!

The week after Bosworth saw us return to the MSS fold for the biggest event in the MSS calender, The English Medieval Festival at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex. This is a great event, last year our Household entered the Living History competition and did very well. The down side to this was we saw very little of the event, so this year we chose not to compete, juts do what we do. The main feature of Herstmonkeys (as we call it) are the two battles fought in the morning, outside the castle, and the afternoon on the field out the back of the grounds. Again I wrote the scripts for this event and my household ended up with a central role (writing scripts has perks you know?)

I took the role of the Duke Of Suffolk and laid siege to the castle. Although this is a MSS run battle we have many guest groups who also take part. This boosts the numbers on the field and gives us different people to fight. The battles went pretty well, but we did suffer from communication problems (The Fog of War) which led to cannon not firing when they were supposed to and arrows not always going where they should. However the battles on the Monday, the third time we fought them, went really well with some brilliant elements including the best flat shooting I have seen. The Hartley household, armoured in plate from head to toe, taking arrows shot at them as the advanced across the long bridge over the moat. Every arrow found a mark and the guys in tin looked terrifying.


The weekend was topped off by Heidi making her first appearance on the battlefield in combat, this year, in her brigandine (that she has made herself, more of that over the winter) wielding a pollaxe and scarying the BeJesus out of our opponents, good to have her back:0)


So that was my summer. Somewhere I was supposed to stop and take it easy. Didn't happen really. But we did have a brilliant time. Made a whole bunch of new friends and reaffirmed some old friendships too. I am fortunate to be involed in various groups so the variety of events keeps the whole thing very interesting. Our household is at full strength and we move towards the last two events of the year with relish. Gonna have to start on some wargaming stuff soon.

(Must thank Pat Patrick for the photos from Bosworth and Hertsmonceux, some great shots)

Cheers

Well where did that go?

It's the middle of August and I haven't made a post on this blog since early June. Just goes to show how damn busy the summer gets around here. My work is pretty full on in June and July. And Reenactment takes up all our spare time. In fact since the end of April we have only had one weekend when we have not been doing something reenactment related. I finally have a moment to try and order some of it so here are some of this summer's highlights so far:

Kentwell 1553:
This year it is 1553 a crucial moment in Tudor times as Edward dies and Lady Jane Grey almost becomes queen. At Kentwell Hall the Master's Natal celebration becomes a celebration for the new queen and the highlight was the Azincourt Pageant, which was mostly a ruse to get heavily armoured men (and one woman, my wife) getting shot with blunt arrows for the pleasure of the crowd. This was not a battle reenactment, it had nine and ten year old boys as the French cavalry and Gentry ladies shooting Men At Arms. the Tudors loved pageantry and shows and this was a pretty good attempt. A great success, warmly received and a hell of a lot of fun, getting shot at close range by your mates.


Tewkesbury
Immediately after Kentwell was the Battle of Tewkesbury. The largest Medieval battle during the English season and an incredible experience. This year was no let down. I was knighted at the start of the battle as Sir James Tyrrell, won a champions' duel against a French brawler. And received my first blood wound on the field when my helmet was torn off by another French man in the defence of the Anjou banner. A brilliant weekend, great company, got to see Schelmish one of my favourite bands and witnessed some real wizardry when a guy called Ironhead fixed my my wife's shoulder injury in minutes. Even a sceptic like me had my thinking challenged.

Festival Of History
Straight from Tewkesbury one weekend to Kelmarsh the next. The English Heritage Festival Of History is a huge multi-period event. Roman gladiators mingle with Men At Arms, Redcoats and Tommies at the bar. We were there to take part in the huge Battle Of Bosworth spectacular. Which was great fun. Our Household represent the De La Poles and John de la Pole (Jr) was the Earl Of Lincoln and heir to the throne in 1485 so we wore our own colours and fought under our own standard, oh and were mercilessly cut down by Lancastrian scum.


In the evening we headed for the beer tent where all wear their finest. Most of our mob went in Steampunk gear, just another little something we dabble in.

Knights' Tourney of Foote
It was going to be quiet for a couple of weeks, but then I was rung out of the blue to take part in the Knights' Tourney of Foote at Dover Castle. The conversation went something like this: "So you want me to camp at Dover Castle with my family, do some archery, put on some armour and hit people around the head? And you'll pay me? hmm let me think about it..."

So off we went to Dover and had an absolute blast. I squired on Saturday, did a pretty good job in the archery (only the second time I have shot this year) and then had a riot in the club melee, a two man teams, in an all against all four team contest where the aim of the game is to club your opponents to the floor. The most fun you can legally have with your clothes on:0)

Unfortunately Nick the Knight of the North Dislocated his shoulder and fractured his elbow in a fall. So on the Sunday I was asked to stand in as a Knight.

Saturday had been good Sunday was even better. I fought in a Crest Melee, (Something new for me as I don't fight with hand and a half swords) and then more club action. Overall the event was brilliant. Injuries from the weekend bruised thumb and damaged wrist (Ligaments I think) but as Matt, The Green Knight had his nose broken and Nick aforementioned injuries I reckon I did alright:0)

The other guys in the tourney team were extremely welcoming and we were mad to feel part of the family. Thanks Mark, Rob, Matt, Nick, Simon, Ant, Steve, Nigel, Louise, Vicky and Tim I did have one advantage over the others, my own cheerleaders.


Hoping to be out with the Knights' Tourney team next year at some point.


A longish video of the Sunday Club melee should give you an idea of the Mayhem

A very quick video to show you fast the CREST MELEE was. Blink and you miss it

So so far a pretty busy summer, no room to write about Hatfield Forest with the Company of Saint Jospeh or Bodiam Castle with the MSS, that's for next time.
Cheers for now, see you in the 15th century

Elizabethan Military

Right last time there were no military pictures so this time they all will be:0)


So here are a few more images from our recent event at Kentwell. Although we were aiming to spend the weekend in medieval attire, some of us also took along our Elizabethan kit so we could take advantage of the great setting. When at Kentwell we are what we call year specific, and for several years at a time we may not be doing an Elizabethan year. However as I recently acquired a musket and with my further interest in 1588 And All That and Border reivers we decided to see if we could get some action shots, so here we are.



Give Fire! Bendy, our photographer was rather pleased with this shot.



It's not all musketry though. We went at it with sideswords too.




Frankly can't wait for another Elizabethan year at Kentwell, we plan to create a musketeer regiment with lots of guns. I already have the new hat that would be required. More medieval stuff next time.

Thanks should go to Ant and Dangerous Pete for dressing up and playing and Bendy for the terrific photos, yet again.

What it's all about.

So there's this book called The Medieval Soldier: 15th century campaign life recreated in photographs by John Howe (the LOTR artist) and Gerry Embleton. It features loads of fantastic photos of the White Company (NOW DEFUNCT) and the Company of St George, two of the foremost medieval reenactment groups, and frankly is THE book that every medievalist should own and if you don't have a copy, shame on you! Rumour has it they plan to make a new version, in the meantime mere mortals like my group, the Suffolk free Company, aspire to produce Living History to this standard.

Most of the Suffolks outside the Cott on Sunday morning. Getting everyone in the same place at the same time is tricky you know:0)

Now we are very fortunate as we are re-enactors at Kentwell Hall in Suffolk, probably the place that started the recreation of domestic life in bygone days, For those of you who don't know, Kentwell Hall is a Redbrick Tudor Manor house, which has been owned for the past forty years by Patrick Phillips and his wife Judith. Apart from renovating the hall itself there are several other period buildings on the manor, including the fabulous Moat House and a variety of farm buildings on the Barnsward all of which were rebuilt by Tudor re-enactors (one of whom is in our household). Kentwell has featured in three articles in Wargames Illustrated which I wrote about the Spanish Armada crisis of 1588.

Every now and then Kentwell has low key events that are a little more flexible with what will take place. The weekend of 22nd May was one such weekend; Wool Weekend is when the sheep on the manor are sheared and various 'Tudors' who work with wool are also present. Whilst most of our group don't work with wool, we do cover a huge range of other period crafts so we were very pleased when we were allowed to take over 'the Cott' for the weekend and bring it to life. The Cott is a 15th century Yeoman farmer's dwelling. We are also quite fortunate as we have an excellent photographer in our midst, Bendy, and although he doesn't usually do Kentwell he was allowed on the manor this weekend and before and after hours he was able to take a whole bunch of photos, so many that we may well just have to make our own book, hmmm.

So what follows is just a sample of what we got. There were so many that it will cover a couple of blog entries, especially as some of us took Elizabethan kit as well and we took photos in that, all of which will go in another post:0) Special thanks must go to PP for allowing us the privilege of playing in the Cott and Bendy for the great photos as always!

Ned, Beanie and Jake fishing

Bess & Me working a fallow deer skin.

Francis cooking dinner for all of us. Nice shot taken from the loft in the cott.

Soldiers' kit.

Bess, Sue and Broad Tom unwrapping newly made soap.

Mirabel & Broad Tom give eachother Good day!

Ant and Dangerous Pete repairing kit and making hose.

Martha working wool.

Look at that,not a military shot in sight. Next entry will have plenty:0)

Checkout www.kentwellhall.co.uk

Post Salute2011 F&IW photos

Ok, so some of the photos I took at Salute were terrible so since then I have made an effort to set up some scenes and try to take some reasonable photos and these are some of the results. There are more but I will probably hold onto them as I intend to produce a little Spirit Of The Game site called Tomahawks and Bayonets.

British Officers contemplate their next move.

Ant's terrific gun and crew (really AWI figs but painted for a few years earlier)

Huron and Courier de Bois sneak across the waterfall while British Light Infantry keep an unaware watch out.

A small British column marches past the Phillips' cabin.

A Conestoga wagon trundles along a frontier trail.


Courier de Bois and Huron indians cover the main column of marching French Infantry.


British Light Infantry engage a warband of Indians across Swallowtail Creek

All the figures here are from Sash & Saber miniatures (from Old Glory Uk in the UK) Brits painted by Ant, French and Indian by me. All scenery is by me.

Salute 2011

Salute 2011 was the first outing for our 40mm F&IW game. It was particularly satisfying as I bought the figures for this game at Salute 2010 so in a year we had completed an entire project, probably a first for me.


Salute 2011 turned out to be a great event. We got everything painted on time (just) and the new scenery was ace, I was delighted with the how the waterfall turned out. We got through a lot of games. The table above was split into three separate sections which meant we never waited for more than three players, before we could start a scenario. This year I even managed to see some of the show as we arrived early and got set up in record time. The only downside was that most of the pictures I took were shocking, so I only have a few here. I will be setting various pictures up at home soon so watch this space. I also will be giving them to Old Glory / Sash & Saber so they can use them on their sites.
The Phillips' cabin under attack by Huron and Courier de Bois. This scenario played out very well and was won by players on both sides during the day. The cabin got lots of attention from photographers roof off and on:0)

The middle scenario with the Conestoga wagon was the one I was worried about as it was untested and looked pretty tricky. So we tried it out first thing with me taking the role of the British and mainly thanks to Mike's terrible dice rolls I proved it was possible to win. However, the Brits didn't manage another win in this scenario, mainly due to some odd choice of what to do with the wagon. Trying to run down injuns with an ox drawn wagon is not advisable folks.

We didn't win any prizes (nevermind) no gimmmicks, no fantasy elements and only a skirmish game, however we did get loads of favourable comments and many old faces came and played and had a great time. Roll on Salute 2012. More 40mm games I think. Much thanks to Ant, who painted all the British and Mike who, as always, played the role of Spirit Of The Game logistics Corps.

Better photos to follow and hopefully some WI articles too. Watch this space.